Hobart Beach, Bournda Lagoon and Beach loop

This is an expansive walk out from Hobart Beach camping area taking in some of the best sights of Bournda National Park. The walk explores the area from the campsite, and around Bournda Lagoon, before following the beautiful North Tura and Bournda beaches back to the start. There is plenty of opportunity along this walk to get the toes wet and to simply enjoy your surroundings.

Hobart Beach campground

This is a well-established campsite close to the beach and lake. There are garbage and recycling bins. Each camping space is well-defined and there is a large covered common area. The camp surrounds the stone and timber toilet and laundry facility.

Easy track

From the intersection, this walk follows the path and the sign to the ‘Field Study Huts’[1] past the large picnic shelter (on the left). The track soon passes a volleyball court (on the right) and a fire pit (on the left), then follows a track marker through the dense melaleuca. The track soon comes to a three-way intersection marked with several signs, including one pointing back to ‘Hobart Beach Camping Area’[2].
From the intersection, the walk continues straight along the track, following the ‘Bondi Lake’ sign[3] through the melaleuca. The track soon comes to another three-way intersection, marked with another sign pointing back to ‘Hobart Beach Camping Area’[4].Continue straight: From this intersection, this walk heads south along the track, following the ‘Bondi Lake’ sign[5] through the melaleuca. The track soon comes to then crosses the dirt Bournda Rd to the ‘Hobart Beach Camping Area 0.5km’sign[6] on the otherside.

(0.41km) Int. Bournda Rd and Hobart Beach Rd → Bournda Beach car park

1.7 km

28 mins

12m

-13m

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the road, this walk follows the sign to ‘Bondi Lake’[7] between the timber posts and along the wide track. The track winds through the tall heath for a while untill passing an old hut (on the left) where the track comes to a three way intersection marked with a ‘hobart beach camp’ sign[8] pointing back along the track.
From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘bournda lagoon’ sign[9] along with wide track. The track passes along the side of Bondi Lake (not visable on the left) to come to a faint intersection with the signposted ‘Field Studies Huts’[10] track (on the right).Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk leaves the hill and the ‘Field Studies Huts’ sign behind, on the right of the track, as the track continues through the heath,heading up a slight rise to a signposted intersection in Bournda Beach car park.

(2.11km) Bournda Beach car park → Bondi Lake Sth

390 m

6 mins

2m

-7m

Experienced only

Turn left : From the car park, this walk heads between the trees at the point where three short vertical logs mark the track. The track heads down through the bush to the base of a set of stairs.Turn left: From the bottom of the stairs, the walk keeps the bottom of the dunes to the right for some time and then tends to the left through the trees. The track winds through the trees to open out onto the large treeless clearing of Bondi Lake. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Veer left.

Bondi Lake

Bondi Lake lies south of Tathra, behind Bournda Beach in Bournda National Park. The lake, when filled, is a shallow body of fresh water, which is fed by streams all found within the National Park. The lake, when dry, resembles a paddock with many kangaroos grazing in the middle of the dry lake. The lake can be accessed by bush tracks from Bournda Lagoon car park or Hobart Beach camping area.

Moderate track

Turn left: From the gate, this walk heads up through the car park following the ‘Hobart Beach Camping Area’ arrow on the signpost. The trail comes to a signpost for ‘Bournda Beach Parking Area’.

Bournda Beach picnic area

Bournda Beach picnic area is found next to Bournda Lagoon car park, in Bournda National Park. The picnic area is shaded by the trees behind Bournda Beach, which is between Tathra and Merimbula. The picnic area has modest facilities with a few picnic tables, BBQ pit and a toilet nearby. The picnic area is a great place to eat lunch before heading down to Bournda Beach or Lagoon, which are only a stroll away through the bush.

(2.34km) Bournda Lagoon Carpark → Bournda Lagoon Lookout

240 m

5 mins

6m

-8m

Hard track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads along the car park (on the right) to the signposted intersection at the other corner of the car park. The walk then follows the sign ‘Bournda Walking Track’ down the hill. The track winds for a short time to come to a ‘Walking Track’ signposted intersection before the lagoon.Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the arrow on the sign ‘Walking Track’ keeping the lagoon on the left. The track soon meets a signposted hill, which it heads up, coming to an signposted intersection on the left.Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the sign to the lookout. The track winds through the trees, up onto a rocky platform overlooking the lagoon and beach.

Bournda Lagoon Lookout

Bournda Lagoon lookout is a small unfenced rock platform perched above Bournda Lagoon, in Bournda National Park. The views to the south, over the lake, reveal how close the lagoon is to the beach. The angle of the lookout onto the water gives a look through the water to the bottom of the lagoon.

Hard track

Turn around: From the lookout, this walk heads away from the unfenced rock edge and into the trees. The track keeps the lagoon below on the right as it winds through the trees to a signposted intersection.Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the sign ‘Walking Track’, winding up the hill, then turning left and soon coming to a ‘Walking Track’ signposted intersection.Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Walking Track’ arrow down the steps. The steps lead the walk beneath a line of cliffs, then the track turns left, down the hill, entering an area of rainforest vegetation (which is signposted). The track then continues down closer to the water where it turns right, and keeps the lagoon on the left for some time. The track then passes a whole lot of seats with a signpost marked ‘Study Area 1’. The track continues past this to more closely follow the waterline, on the left, coming to ‘Study Area 2’. The walk passes over a log then follows the track markers along the creek bank. The track then turns left, up the hill, and follows a rocky path over the hill and down to a dry creek crossing. The track crosses to the other side, where there is a signpost.Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the arrow up the rocky hill. The track winds along the hillside, with Sandy Beach Creek below on the right. The track soon descends from the hill, meandering through the bush, tending left (away from the creek) to a well-signposted intersection.

Moderate track

Turn left : From the intersection, the walk follows the ‘Bournda Lagoon via Bournda Headland’ sign, tending left down the hill. The walk heads straight past a ‘Kunzea’ sign to the right, before passing over numerous speed bump like mounds on a white dirt path. The track continues straight up this hill to wind past a ‘Melaleuca’ sign to the left of the track. From here, the track meanders down the hill to a signposted intersection.Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the sign to ‘Bournda Lagoon via Bournda Headland’, keeping the ocean on the right of the track. The track winds behind the dunes to soon come to a signposted intersection. Now Continue straight to rejoin the main walk .

Moderate track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the sign ‘Nth Tura Carpark’ down the hill. The sandy track meanders through the heath to a signposted intersection.Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the sign to ‘Nth Tura Carpark’, heading down the track through the thick heath. The track winds a little as it passes into areas of open and closed heath, and also passes a ‘Walking Track’ sign. The walk continues for a short time to meet a signposted intersection with picnic tables at the car park.

(5.68km) Nth Tura Picnic Area → Nth Tura Lookout

60 m

2 mins

1m

-1m

Easy track

Turn right: From the intersection, the walk heads away from the face of the ‘North Tura Beach’ sign[11] initially the picnic tables to your right. The walk leads gently uphill along the wide gravel track, past the large ‘Welcome to North Tura Beach’ information sign[12], and toilet

to come to an intersection beside the car park marked with a timber ‘North Tura Beach’ sign[13].Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Viewing Platform’ sign[14], towards the lookout. The walk leads along the gravel path, around the timber bollard[15] then up the fibreglass ramp (1.5m wide), keeping a timber fence either side. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Continue straight.

North Tura Lookout

North Tura Beach Lookout is between Tathra and Merimbula in Bournda National Park. The lookout platform (4.6×4.6m) has stunning views[16] over North Tura Beach, all the way south to Tura Headland[17] and out to sea. The lookout is also a perfect viewing point for Turingal Head[18] and Bournda Island. The fence[19] is 91cm high and the ramp leading up is 1.5m wide[20].

(5.68km) Nth Tura Car Park Picnic Area → Nth Tura Beach

100 m

2 mins

0m

-4m

Moderate track

Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the sign ‘Steps to Beach 80m’ down the hill. The walk winds down through the melaleuca trees to an unsignposted intersection with a set of stairs.Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the stairs down the hill and through the heath and then onto the beach.

(5.77km) Nth Tura Beach → Nth Tura Beach and Bournda Island Trk

780 m

13 mins

7m

-6m

Moderate track

Turn left: From the staircase, this walk heads north along the beach towards Bournda Island, keeping the ocean to the right. Just before the rocky Bournda Island, there is a small but distinct track on the left through the heath.

(6.56km) Nth Tura Beach and Bournda Island Trk → Bournda Island

220 m

4 mins

8m

-5m

Hard track

Turn right: From the bottom of the steps, this walk heads away from the stairs and across the beach towards Bournda Island. The walk continues along the sand to a small cave feature at the base of the island.Veer right: From the intersection, the walk keeps the cave feature on the right and climbs up the ridge of rock. The track winds along the left-hand side of the island, with the ocean below on the left. The walk heads up onto the hill with views of both North Tura and Bournda Beaches. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Veer right.

Bournda Island

Bournda Island separates Bournda and North Tura beaches, and is located between Tathra and Merimbula. The island is joined to the mainland by a tombola beach, which can be submerged by the tide to form a real island. Bournda Island is covered in low dune shrub vegetation species that are perched on top of the rocky island. Access to the island is at low tide from Bournda or North Tura beaches. Bournda Island can also be accessed from the Bournda Lagoon via Headland Track.

(6.56km) Nth Tura Beach and Bournda Island Trk → Bournda Bch Sth

230 m

4 mins

3m

-8m

Hard track

Turn left: From the beach, the walk heads up the stairs away from the ocean. The walk heads over the top of the hill to a signposted intersection.Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the sign to ‘Bournda Lagoon’, following the white fencing. The walk keeps the ocean on the right as it winds down to a grassy lookout on the right of the track (with fantastic views of Bournda Island). The walk then heads down some stairs to a signposted intersection on the beach.

(6.79km) Bournda Beach → Bournda Bch Sth

580 m

9 mins

4m

-3m

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the intersection at the southern end of the beach, the walk heads along the beach, keeping the ocean to the right, and the dunes to the left. The walk continues past views of Bournda Lagoon to a spot opposite a set of stairs (going up the taller dunes on the left).

Bournda Beach

Bournda Beach, Bournda National Park, lies between Tathra and Merimbula, and forms the southern end of Wallagoot Beach. The beach provides some good surf conditions with a south-easterly aspect (not patrolled). At the southern end of the beach is Bournda Island, attached to the beach by a rocky headland and tombola (sand joining the island to mainland). The dunes backing the beach are undergoing rehabilitation. Bournda Beach is accessed by Bournda Rd at either Hobart Beach camping area, Bournda Lagoon or Wallagoot Gap parking areas.

(7.36km) Bournda Beach → Wallagoot Beach

2.2 km

34 mins

12m

-12m

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the middle of the beach, opposite a set of erosion control steps, the walk heads along the beach, keeping the ocean to the right. The walk continues along the beach until it comes opposite a set of erosion control steps to the left.Continue straight: From the middle of the beach, across from a set of erosion control steps, the walk heads along the beach, keeping the ocean to the right. The walk continues along the beach for quite some time to a point opposite a set of erosion control steps going up the dunes to the left.

Wallagoot Beach

Wallagoot Beach, is located east of Wallagoot Lake in Bournda National Park, between Tathra and Merimbula. The beach is a large expanse of white sand, with surf conditions created by its south easterly aspect. The beach’s northern end sometimes floods, due to Wallagoot Lake breaking through the beach’s sand barrier. Alternative access (instead of Wallagoot Lake Rd) is from Bournda Rd, through Hobart Beach camping area.

(9.53km) Wallagoot Beach → Ocean beaches carpark Trk

300 m

5 mins

7m

-2m

Moderate track

Turn left: From the intersection, this walk heads away from the beach and up the erosion control stairs. The walk then heads down the stairs onto a sandy clear trail which winds through the bush. The track soon meets a signposted intersection.

Moderate track

Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the sign to the ‘Parking Area’[21] along the sandy track, towards the distant hills. The walk winds though the melaleuca, some of which are on the track. The soon comes to a timber boardwalk and a three way intersection with a ‘Ocean Beaches’ sign[22] pointing back along the track.
From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Hobart Beach camp’ sign[23] off the end of the board walk to the come to a car park a short distance later. A the carpark the walk turns right to find a signposted intersection next to the picnic table.Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the arrow on the sign to ‘Wallagoot Lake’[24], away from the car park and picnic table. The track tends right, down the hill, for approximately 50m to an intersection on the shore of Wallagoot Lake.

Hobart Beach

Hobart Beach is located on the southern shores of Wallagoot Lake, between Tathra and Merimbula. Hobart Beach extends from the sand dunes to Scotts Bay, on Wallagoot Lake. The beach is a thin slice of white sand between the treeline and the lake, and provides plenty of opportunity to go for a swim and enjoy the water. Access to the beach is through Hobart Beach camping area, off Bournda Rd in Bournda National Park.

Wallagoot Lake (Lagoon)

Wallagoot Lake, Bournda National Park, is located between Tathra and Merimbula on the Sapphire Coast Drive. Wallagoot Lake is a large expanse of water, although it is only two to three metres deep. The lake’s catchment is found predominantly within Bournda National Park, the main tributary being Moncks Creek. The lake is blocked from the ocean by sand dunes on the eastern end – these dunes are broken intermittently, connecting the lake with the sea. Wallagoot Lake is home to many bird species including Black Swans and a threatened Tern.
The lake is a popular spot for picnics and other recreation. Hobart Beach camping area lies on the southern shore of the lake, and on the northern edge lies the Wallagoot Lake Boat Club, with its parking, and also a picnic area, providing plenty of opportunities to enjoy the lake. Wallagoot Lake can be accessed by Wallagoot Lake Rd off the Sapphire Coast Drive. More info.

Easy track

Turn sharp left: From the intersection, the walk heads away from Wallagoot Lake, keeping it a bit to the right for a short time, passing a post with a red reflective marker[25]. The track tends right, away from the lake and the beach, to come into view of a clearing, the campsite, on the left. The track continues to an area with cut logs on the ground. The walk passes these logs, continuing to the main road, to the right of large triangular shelter where there is a signpost.

Maps for the Hobart Beach, Bournda Lagoon and Beach loop walk

You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.

Some more details of this walks Grading

Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk

Gradient

4km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps and another 3.5km is flat with no steps. Whilst another 1.6km is very steep and the remaining 1.5km has short steep hills.

Quality of track

6km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles and another 2.3km follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely. The remaining (2.2km) follows a clear and well formed track or trail.

Signs

Around 10km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 890m is clearly signposted.

Experience Required

This whole walk, 11km requires no previous bushwalking experience.

weather

Around 9km of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 1.3km is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.

Infrastructure

7km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced) and another 2.6km is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats). The remaining (1.4km) has limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged).

Similar walks

A list of walks that share part of the track with the Hobart Beach, Bournda Lagoon and Beach loop walk.

Fire Danger

http://new.wildwalks.com/wildwalks_custom/includes/walk_fire_danger.php?walkid=nsw-bourndnp-hbblabl
Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.

Weather Forest

This walk starts in the South Coast weather district always check the formal BOM forecast or pdf before starting your walk.
http://new.wildwalks.com/wildwalks_custom/includes/walk_weather_danger.php?walkid=nsw-bourndnp-hbblabl
Forecast snapshot